Customers

Menu is a private-label pet food manufacturer to 17 of the top 20 North American retailers as well as leading pet specialty retailers in North America. Menu has secured these customers by developing, where appropriate, comprehensive private-label programs with products comparable to the leading national branded manufacturer's offerings.

Menu is a contract manufacturer for many branded pet food companies. As a result of Menu's low-cost, flexible manufacturing platform, it is able to generate reasonable profit margins manufacturing segments of these branded companies' portfolios. Menu sees continued expansion of its contract manufacturing business as a growth opportunity, as the branded pet food manufacturers expand their product lines and look to contract manufacturing as an alternative to capital investment.

Menu's sales are generally well balanced by distribution channel in relation to the United States wet pet food market average, with opportunity for growth in the mass merchandiser channel. During 2004, Menu entered the dollar and discount segment of the market, another fast growing part of North American retailing.